07/14/2013

In honor of the upcoming 25th Vancouver Queer Film Festival, a stop-motion video has been released to celebrate 25 years of memorable queer cinema: from But I'm a Cheerleader to Hedwig and the Angry Inch and everything in-between. The festival takes place August 15-25.

The wording of a proposed ballot measure that would repeal the 2004 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Arkansas was rejected by the state's Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Friday. McDaniel (pictured right) said the proposal by Arkansans for Equality contained "misleading tendencies" and failed to meet the state Supreme Court's requirement for "impartiality." The Times Record reports:

Said McDaniel:

"Specifically, rather than simply describing Amendment 83 to the Arkansas Constitution (the amendment proposed to be repealed), your proposed ballot title asserts an abridgment of undefined 'rights' and seems to presume Amendment 83's illegality in terms of federal law of other states," the opinion said.

"It is conclusory and partisan to assert that Amendment 83 'limits' Arkansans' 'rights' and 'prevents federal laws...being applied in a consistent manner,"' the opinion said. "To use such terms and phrases is to promote by implication, not to summarize, a proposal. As a consequence, the proposed ballot title has misleading tendencies and fails to meet the Arkansas Supreme Court's requirement of impartiality."

Arkansas for Equality submitted its proposal the day after DOMA was struck down by the Supreme Court. The group had hoped to get the proposal on the 2014 general election ballot. A similar proposal by Arkansas Initiative for Marriage Equality would appear on the 2016 ballot instead.

The full trailer for the upcoming sci-fi dystopian thriller starring Matt Damon and Jodi Foster has finally dropped. The film, directed by District 9's Neil Blomkamp, arrives in theaters on August 9th.

In a conversation with the Washington Blade's Chris Johnson on Friday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney reiterated Obama's preference for legislative passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) when asked about a possible executive order to bar LGBT workplace discrimination among federal contractors.

Says Carney:

"I will not argue with you when you say there are obstacles that ENDA faces to becoming law, but the fact is, this was a good week in progress towards passing ENDA and the president strongly supports the efforts undertaken by Senate Democrats and some Senate Republicans to encourage the passage of this legislation, and we'll continue to work with the Congress to see it done," Carney said.

"I'm not aware of the calls," Carney said. "I can tell you that the president and this administration makes clear to our allies and partners and nations around the world that LGBT rights need to be respected everywhere, but I don't have a specific - I haven't discussed this with him."

John Arthur and Jim Obergefell, together for 20 years, decided that they wanted to marry after the Supreme Court struck down DOMA, but Ohio bans gay marriage and travel is difficult. "Arthur is bedridden with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a
progressive neurological disease that robs patients of their ability to
walk, talk and eventually breathe," Cincinnati.com reports, so conventional travel was out of the question.

Donations poured in that would cover the cost of a $12,700 private plane charter, Cincinnati.com adds:

Obergefell flew to Baltimore on Tuesday, obtained the marriage license and flew back a few hours later.

And then on Thursday Arthur and Obergefell boarded a Lear jet at Lunken Airport with a nurse, two pilots trained in emergency medicine, and Arthur’s aunt, Paulette Roberts, who’d been ordained to perform weddings with the hope that she’d someday get to do theirs.

They touched down in Baltimore at 10:39 a.m. The plane parked off the runway and the pilots stepped outside.

And then, in the cramped cabin of the jet, Obergefell seated next to Arthur’s stretcher, the couple turned to each other and held hands. Roberts sat behind them and began to speak.

Before I give further information, on behalf of the Vancouver Police, I want to pass on our condolences to the family, friends, castmates and millions of fans of Mr. Monteith. As was the case in countless homes, I watched Glee regularly with my daughters, and I know there will be shock and sadness in many households with the news of his tragic death.

Mr. Monteith checked into the hotel in July 6th and was due to check out of the room today. There were others with Mr. Monteith in his room earlier last night, but video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours and we believe he was alone when he died.

When he missed his check-out time, staff went to the room at noon and found his body.

We know there will be considerable interest in this case, and we have detectives assigned to the case who attended with our Forensic Identification Unit to examine the scene, to ensure to the extent possible that there are no unanswered questions.

Hotel video has been secured as well as room access records. Our investigators have spoken with hotel staff, who are providing the utmost in cooperation.

The Coroner will be determining the next steps with respect to establishing cause of death, but all indications are that there was no foul play.

Monteith, who played Finn Hudson on Glee, was also a participant in the Straight But Not Narrow campaign, encouraging young heterosexual men to show support to their gay peers.

Glee stars reacted with shock to the news yesterday. Here's a round-up.

Glee producers released a statement: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones."